Grants to attend NC private schools filed in House

Backers of a bill to give taxpayer dollars to parents of North Carolina children to attend private schools, say the measure will ensure more families have access to a sound education in keeping with the state Constitution.

Two Democrats and two Republicans are sponsors of a measure filed Monday that would create "opportunity scholarship grants" of up to $4,200 per year for students whose families earn of up to three times the federal poverty level. The bill sets aside $90 million over two years for the program.

Democratic sponsor Rep. Marcus Brandon of Greensboro says the measure will expand choices for low-income students. The legislature in 2011 lifted a cap on the number of charter schools and created a tax for parents of special-needs children in private schools.